Government Temporarily Halts Rice Fortification Under PMGKAY Citing Shelf Life Concerns

The Indian government has temporarily discontinued rice fortification under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and related welfare schemes due to concerns over nutrient degradation during prolonged storage. A study by IIT Kharagpur found that factors like moisture, temperature, and packaging affect the stability and shelf life of fortified rice, leading to micronutrient loss. The decision does not reduce foodgrain entitlements or affect distribution under schemes like PDS, ICDS, or Mid-Day Meal. Fortification will resume once a more effective nutrient delivery method is developed.